Automatic cut-off for gas lines



May 1; 1923. 1,453,573

V T. TOLLA ET AL AUTOMATIC CUT-[OFF FQR GAS LINES Filed May 8, 1922 3 2 Sheet-Sheef May 1, 1923. T. TOLLA ET AL AUTOMATIC CUT- OFF FOR GAS mums '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 4n 5 iii 2 m 4 4 7 n0 4 Z /5252 205 2 2 2 2 2 F 2/2 2 WW/ Patented May 1, i923 'rnnononn mm AND EDGAR wanaiin BOOTS, or ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANTA.

a'o'roiize rio our-01in non GAS LINESA Application filed May 8,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, THEODORE ToLLA, a citizen of Servia, and EDGAR W. Boers, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ell wood City, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania. have invented cer} tain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Cutoff for Gas Lines; and we do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art'to which it appertain's to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved d'evice which is adapted to be installed in a gas supply line for cutting off the gas to the burners when the pressure in the supply pipe falls below a predetermined degree, such as would permit the light to be extinguished without warning and thus endangering the life of the occupant of-the room in which the gas was escaping unburned.

The principal object'of the invention is to generally improve upon a pending and-allowed application for an automatic cut-olf of this class which bears Serial No. 483,993, and was filed by us on Julyll,- 1921/ Briefly described, the above named application discloses an automatic cut-off forgas lines which comprises a body having auxiliary and main passages through which the gas'is designed to fiowseparat'ely, both of these passages'communicating with an upwardly inclined passage which constitutes a run-way for a ball retainer which is designed to normally coast with the valve at theupper end of the main passage to maintain it closed. Both the auxiliary andinain passages. are equipped with independently operable valves for permitting passage 01'' the gas successively through the auxiliary passage first and then through-the main pas sage. The body referred to is composed of a plurality of disconnectible parts as stated and there are separate valves for each of the vertically disposed passages.

As above intimated, itis desirable to improve upon this'construction by substituting a body which is in the form'of a one-piece" metal casting, the same embodying the-two vertically disposed main and auxiliary passages and a runway for the ball retainer, but being such in construction as to accommodate a removable bushing which is provided with a valve seat which is employed to per mit replacement of this part without requiring removal and substitution of more exgas is passingthrough the line. K I 7 section taken on the was. Serial'No. 559,471.

pensive part such as is required with the form of the invention above briefly reviewed.

' Another feature of the first invention is to so devise the body as to permit the use of a single two-way automatically operablevalve' which Wlll immediately open the main passage as soon as the by-pass or auxiliary passage is closed.

Other objects and advantages of the in-,

vention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

'Figure 1 isfa top plan VlQVV of an auto matic cut-off constructed in accordance with is a central vertical sectional view through theimproved device showing the position of parts when a full supply of Figure 4 is a detail line 4 -4 of Figure 4. x

Figure 5 is a view like F igure-i showing th position of parts when the gaspressur is insu'fiicient to sustain in open position.

Figure 5 is a. detail s'ectionqof 'theintermediate part of figure 5 showing the valve turned against the action of the spring to g, of the fluid through th b permit passage pass.

Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Figure l.

Figure 7 is a central vertical sectionlof.

the removable bushing.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally a one-piece metal casting or'body which includes a vertically disposed tubular the check-valve main passage 2 provided intermediate its? ends with a transversely dis osed open ended tapered part 3 which constitutes al'iousing for a two-way valve or rotary turn plugt to be hereinafter more specifically described;

The body is designed to provide a by-pass' '5 which communicates atlits opposite'ends with and is disposed in parallelism with'the ma'in passage 2. The last named passage is internallyscrew-threaded at itslower end to permit connection of the'supp'ly pipes I Communicating with the by-pass and main passage is an integral upwardly extending tubular part 7 which constitutes what may be conveniently termed run-way for a ball valve retainer 8. The run-way is closed at its outer open end by a removable screw plug 9 which serves to limit the movement of the ball retainer in one direztion. Just inward of this closing plug and in one side, the runway is provided with a horizontal discharge, port 10 which communicates with an integral angularly disposed pipe-coupling 11. Referring again to the main fluid passage, it will be seen that this is enlarged in diameter intermediate its ends to provide a shoulder 12, and the wall of reduced part of the passage just below the shoulder is screwthreaded to permit a screw-plug 13 to be connected'therewith. This plug is provided. intermediate its ends with an annular flange 1a which rests on the shoulder 12 and it is cen trally bored and is equipped with an upstanding tubular extension 15 which constitutes valve guide which carries a guide pin 16. This screw plug 13 is threaded into the lower end of a removable bushing or sleeve 17 which is fitted into the enlarged upper portion of the main fluid passage. Adjacent its upper end, the bushing is equipped with relatively small and large openings 18 and 19, the first named which communicates with the aforesaid byspass while the last named one communicates with the aforesaid run-Way. The opening 19 is sufficiently.

large to permit passage of the ball retainer 8. I Just belowthese openings, the bushing is equipped with an internal annular rib 20 having a beveled upper face to permit it to function as a valve-seat for a fluid actuated valve 21. This valve is equipped with a de pending tubular slotted part 22 into which the upper end of the aforesaid tubular extension 15 telescopes, the pin carried by the latter extending into the slot in this part 522 to'prevent rotation of the valve. It is obvious that the ball retainer fl is designed to reston the valve. 21 to normally retain it closed and to'insure effective cooperation of these parts. The valve is provided (as seen clearly in Fig. 6) with guide-groove or seat 23. For the purpose of preventing movement of the ball retainer, a screw-plug 2 1 is threaded into the upper end of the bushing and this plug is adapted to be turned to bind I the ball between it and the valve. To facilitate turning of the plug, it is provided with a lrerf 25 for reception of the blade of a screw-driver or the like. The plug may be removed for the purpose of gaining access to the ball, valve and its seat. Although it is not. essential, the plugQ is formed in its under face witha guide-groove :26 for co-acting with the first named groove 23." In practice. it is desirable to make use-of a removable cap 27 which is threaded on the upper end of the sleeve 17. It may be mentioned at this point that the sleeve is formed at this end with diametrically opposite notches 28 to permit use of an ordinary screw-driver in assembling the parts of the device. This particular construction of parts obviates the necessity of using a wrench or special tools in assembling the device, and permits a screw-driver or like implement to suilice during the period of assembling.

Referring again to the rotary turn plug at, it will be seen that this is equipped at one end with a handle 28 and at its opposite end with a screw-threaded extension 29 passing through the central opening in a washer 30 which bears against the small open end of the aforesaid tapered part 3 of the body. A nut 31 is arranged on thefree end of the extension 29 and the coiled spring 32 is arranged between the washer and the nut to insure tight contact of the turn-plug With its housing; It is desirable to have this turn-plug normally retained in the position shown in Figures 4 and 5 and to accomplish this end, we simply make use of a coiled spring 33 which is anchored at one end as at 34 on the part 3 of the aforesaid body, being connected at its opposite end with a turn-plug through the medium of a screw 35. The part 3 of the bodyis notched as shown to provide spaced shoulders 36; against which the screw abuts, thus limiting the rotation of the turn-plug in both directions.

The operation of the improved automatic 1 cut-off is as follows: Assuming that the cut-off has been installed in the gasline and that the parts are in the positions clearly disclosed in Figure 5, it "will be seen that the gas cannot pass through the line. However, by grasping the handle '28 of the twoway valve 4 and rotating the latter from the position. shown in this I figure to the one shown in Figure 5 it will be seen thatthe gas will be permitted to pass through the by-pass In so doing, it will pass throughthe opening 18 andagainst the ball retainer 8 and will force the latter up the inclined run-way until it comes into contact with the plug 9 at the outer ends of the runway. As soon as the ballretainer has been caused to assume this position, the valve-handleQS is immediatelyreleased and the spring 33 serves to automatically return the valveto its normal position; The gas is then permitted to pass through the main passage 1 and'in so doing lifts the valve 20 oif of its seat and permits the gas to pass through the runway and into the remaining partof the line through the opening 10 and the couping 11.

If at any time the gas pressure is insufficient to keep'the burners lighted, it will be seen that the retainer 8 will roll down the runway and the valve 21 will automatically close by gravity and the ball will roll ontop of it to maintain it closed. Hence, the supply of gas Will be automatically cut off and the lives of the occupants of the house in which the device is installed will not be endangered in any way/ Of course, in order to permit the gas to reflow through the line, the above operation must be repeated. It is to, be noted that if the pressure is still insufficient when it is desired to turn the gas on again, it will fail to force the ball retainer to its inoperative position in the run-way.

By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary. Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, we wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resortedto if desired.

We claim 1. An automatic cut-ofl for gas supply lines comprising a body provided with main and auxiliary passages through which the gas is designed to pass separately and in succession, a valve in said mainpassage, a runway communicating with both of said passages, a retainer in the run-way for co-operation with said valve, a rotary turn-plug in said body and having a two-way passage co-operative with said passages, and spring means acting on the valve to automatically maintain it in position so that one of the passages normally communicates with the main passage in the body.

2. An automatic cut-ofl' for gas lines comprising a body having a main passage and a by-pass communicating therewith, a valve in said main passage, a removable sleeve also 1 arranged in said passage, the sleeve being provided with a valve seat, a fluid actuated valve cooperative with the seat, and a fluid actuated retainer cooperative with the last named valve.

3; An automatic cutofl' for gas lines comprising a body having a main passage and a by-pass communicating at its opposite ends with said passage, said body being also equipped with an upwardly inclined tubular extension, a valve in said passage, a sleeve removably arranged in said passage and formed intermediate its ends with an internal valve seat, a fluid actuated valve cooperative with said seat, and a retainer for said fluid actuated valve movable in said run-way.

4. In an automatic cut-off for gas lines,,

a body in theform of a one-piece casting including a vertically disposed tubular part forming a main passage, a by-pass communicating with said passage, and an upwardly inclined and angularly disposed tubular exthe vertically disposed part of the body,

said open endedpart constitutin'ga housing fora rotary turn plug. v

6. In an automatic cut-oif for gas supply lines, a removable sleeve provided interme diate its ends with an annular rib having its upper face beveled, to provide a valve seat, said sleeve being screw-threaded at its opposite ends and being provided intermediate its ends'just above said rib with oppositely disposed relatively small and large,

openings.

7 In an automatic cut-off for gas supply lines, a removable unit adapted, to be dis posed in the main passage of a body,said 9 unit comprising a sleeve provided between its ends with a valve seat and adjacent said valve seatwith an opening to permit passageof the gas, the sleeve being screwthreaded at its opposite end, plugs threaded into said ends, one of said plugs beingcentrally bored and equipped with an upstanding tubular guide-extension, and a valve 00-.

operative with said seat and provided with a depending tubular part into which said extension telescopes.

8. The, structure set forth in claim 8, to

gether. with a pin carried by said upstanding tubular part, said tubular. depending part of the valve being formed with a slot.

through one end, said pin being received in said slot to prevent rotation of the valve with respect to the plug but to permit separation of these parts.

9. In an automatic cut-ofl'v for gas supply lines, a sleeve provided between its ends.

with an internal valve seat, a valve co-op-' erative with said seat, said valve being formed in lts upper face with a guide groove, and a plug closing the upper end of said sleeve, the inner face of said plug being formed with a guide grooveidisposed in spaced parallelism with respect-to the first named groove.

10. An automatic cut-ofi for gas lines comprising a body having a vertically disposed part constituting a main passage, said assa e beinq enlarged in diameter between its ends to provide an internal shoulder, said body being also equipped with'a by-pass communicating with said passage at its opposite ends, and being further provided I with an angularlyf disposed upwardly vinclined tubular extension providing run-way, said run-way being equipped at its outer ends with a discharge opening, a valve arranged in said'body for selectivelycontrolling the passage offluid through the main passage and by-pass, a removable unit ar- 70 open ended part'interme'diate the ends fof ranged in the enlarged portion of said main and Cooperative with the last named valve passage, said unit including a sleeve having to maintain it closed until fluid is passed W openings Communicating with the run-way through the by-pass and brought against it and Toy-pass, and being provided with a to move it upwardly in the run-way.

Valve seat below said openings, 2; valvefco- In testimony whereof we have hereunto operative with said seat, said valve being set our hands.

gravity lowered, guide means for the valve, THEODORE TQ L'LA. F, and a bell retainer arranged in said run-Way EDGAR VVARR-EN BOOTS. 

